In normal times, one in three U.S. families struggle to purchase diapers. As the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis deepens, many more families are unable to pay for essentials and are turning to local diaper banks for help. Today, Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies brand announced that it will donate five million diapers to the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) to meet this growing need, and $1 million to United Way COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to support community social services.

NDBN’s 200 diaper banks nationwide usually serve nearly 200,000 children on a monthly basis. The five million diapers Huggies is donating to NDBN would fill 20 18-wheeler trucks and will help local diaper banks meet the unprecedented demand for their services. Huggies has contributed 250 million diapers to NDBN since 2011 and 2020 is expected to will mark its biggest donation year in the brand’s history.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionally impacting children and families who lack access to clean diapers and other basic necessities. Hoarding, loss of jobs, and shelter in place orders have forced more families to turn to nonprofit diaper banks, depleting available supplies,” says Joanne Goldblum, CEO, National Diaper Bank Network. “Local diaper banks need immediate help. And, as in past disasters and emergency situations, NDBN is grateful to our founding sponsor Huggies and Kimberly-Clark for their support and help to mobilize the delivery of diapers and other essentials that babies and families need to thrive.”

NDBN member diaper banks include those operated by community-based United Way organizations. United Way Worldwide helps individuals and families in need receive food assistance, pay housing bills, access childcare supplies and secure social services. To bolster these efforts, Huggies is committing $1 million in support of the United Way COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. Donations from the fund will stay in the U.S. and will help the most vulnerable populations receive critical financial and social services during this global crisis.

“The United Way network is working tirelessly during this unprecedented time, responding to new challenges in every community each day as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads,” says Suzanne McCormick, U.S. president of United Way Worldwide. “We are grateful for the support of Huggies and Kimberly-Clark that will enable us to continue to meet the growing needs of communities across the country.”

“We’ve been inspired by the supportive and encouraging conversations our Huggies families have been having online as our teams work around the clock to produce and ship product to retailers and consumers,” says Rebecca Dunphey, Baby and Childcare president of Kimberly-Clark North America. “Our commitment to the National Diaper Bank Network and United Way will help ensure that families and communities get the products they urgently need to help babies thrive.”